KMOX Visits the Red Light District

State and Local Government | February 18, 2009

By David Stokes | Read Time 1 minute

I greatly enjoyed the discussion a short time ago on KMOX’s Mark Reardon Show about red light cameras. The host had Senator Jim Lembke on to talk about his bill before the legislature to outlaw red light cameras in Missouri. I attended a rally a few months back protesting these cameras that was sponsored by a new group dedicated to outlawing them in Missouri. (Intern Phil recently posted a nice summary of our writings on this subject.)

Red light cameras are a violation of our constitutional rights. They violate the 4th, 6th, and — most importantly — the 9th amendments. The 9th amendment involves your right not to be videotaped by a camera every moment of your life. They are nothing more than a scam to get more money for municipalities. I hope Sen. Lembke’s bill passes unanimously as part of a statement by Missouri legislators that they’re willing to defend liberty. (I know, however, that will not actually happen.)

About the Author

David Stokes

David Stokes is a St. Louis native and a graduate of Saint Louis University High School and Fairfield (Conn.) University. He spent six years as a political aide at the St. Louis County Council before joining the Show-Me Institute in 2007. Stokes was a policy analyst at the Show-Me Institute from 2007 to 2016. From 2016 through 2020 he was Executive Director of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, where he led efforts to oppose harmful floodplain developments done with abusive tax subsidies. Stokes rejoined the Institute in early 2021 as the Director of Municipal Policy. He is a past president of the University City Library Board. He served on the St. Louis County 2010 Council Redistricting Commission and was the 2012 representative to the Electoral College from Missouri’s First Congressional District. He lives in University City with his wife and their three children.

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